Things to Do in Charleston That Show Southern Hospitality at Its Best

If you haven't visited Charleston lately, you might be surprised at how trendy this genteel Southern city has become. Sure, you can still find historic mansions and cobblestone streets, but lately there's been an influx of stylish boutique hotels, craft breweries, cocktail bars, and buzzy restaurants helmed by chefs who are putting their own creative spins on traditional Southern cuisine. Here are the best places to stay and things to do in Charleston.

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What to Do: The Historic District

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One of the best ways to see the historic district is via horse-drawn carriage, which will take you past the city's many spired churches and gorgeous antebellum mansions along the Battery, overlooking the Cooper River. At the four-block-long Charleston City Market, buy its signature item: a sweetgrass basket made by local Gullah women.

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What to Do: Fort Sumter National Monument

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Brush up on your U.S. history with a visit via ferry to Fort Sumter National Monument on a man-made island in Charleston harbor. It was at this small five-sided brick fort, on April 12, 1861, that Confederate forces fired on federal troops, thus igniting the Civil War (or the "War of Northern Aggression" you'll jokingly hear 'round these parts).

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What to Do: Middleton Place

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Take a tour of Middleton Place, a former plantation outside of Charleston. Though the original 18th-century mansion was destroyed during the Civil War (one wing is still intact), the 60-acre formal gardens have been beautifully restored. You'll find camellias, azaleas, moss-draped live oaks, and a spectacular five-tier terraced lawn.

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Where to Stay: The Restoration

The Restoration

The Restoration (from $249 per night,priceline.com) is comprised of five historic buildings that have been transformed into a contemporary boutique hotel. Rooms feature exposed brick walls and kitchenettes, and there are loaner iPads and bicycles. Head to The Watch rooftop bar for drinks, especially beautiful during sunset.

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Where to Stay: The Spectator Hotel

The Spectator Hotel

Just minutes from the Charleston City Market and Waterfront Park, The Spectator Hotel (from $279 per night,hotels.com) has a glamorous vibe with art deco lighting fixtures and modern artwork on the walls. The speakeasy-style bar is the perfect spot to sip a hand-crafted cocktail (try the ginseng gin fizz) before heading out to dinner.

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Where to Stay: The Wentworth Mansion

The Wentworth Mansion

While Charleston has seen an influx of modern properties, one of the city's classic hotels is Wentworth Mansion (from $329 per night,expedia.com), a Second Empire-style house that's now an exclusive 21-room inn. Throughout the public spaces, you'll find crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces, and gorgeous Tiffany stained-glass windows.

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Where to Eat: Husk Restaurant

Husk Restaurant/Andrew Cebulka

Chef Sean Brock is credited with igniting Charleston's red-hot food scene, which has attracted nationwide attention. At Husk Restaurant, expect dishes like grilled sweet corn salad with peaches and catfish and Carolina Gold rice. While you're in town, dine at his original restaurant, McCrady's Tavern, and his latest, Minero, with a Southern-inspired Mexican menu.

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Where to Eat: The Ordinary

The Ordinary

From the owners of FIG, one of the city's top farm-to-table restaurants, is The Ordinary, housed in a former bank and specializing in seafood. This is where you come if you want to feast on towers of shellfish (South Carolina littlenecks, razor clams, stone crab claws). Hot dishes include grilled white shrimp and whole roasted flounder.

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Where to Eat: Peninsula Grill

Peninsula Grill

The Peninsula Grill, within the Planters Inn, is one of Charleston's most sophisticated restaurants. Request a table in the lantern-lit courtyard and enjoy refined Southern fare (like she-crab soup and free-range chicken breast with cheddar grits) and a stellar wine list — and be sure to have a slice of its famous multi-layer coconut cake for dessert!

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